UK firms sued by Iraqi Government for 'paying bribes to Saddam Hussein'

Wednesday 2 July 2008 00:31 BST

Three British firms are being sued by the Iraqi government for allegedly paying bribes to Saddam Hussein's regime.

They are among dozens of international companies accused of being involved in the 'biggest fraud in history'.

Saddam Hussein: The Iraqi Government alleges that UK companies, including some household names, supported Saddam's regime by paying millions in bribes

Saddam Hussein: The Iraqi Government alleges that UK companies, including some household names, supported Saddam's regime by paying millions in bribes

Drug company GlaxoSmith-Kline, London-based pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca and the Weir Group Scottish engineering firm are named in the lawsuit alleging they received cash, goods and services intended for the Iraqi people.

The Iraqis are demanding more than £5billion in compensation from 93 companies they say exploited the corrupt United Nations oil-for-food programme.

The programme allowed Baghdad to sell its oil, but only if the money was used to buy food, medicine and other humanitarian goods.

According to the lawsuit filed yesterday in New York, international companies paid kickbacks to Saddam and his henchmen to win supply deals.